Take time to learn about Route 66

by | Jun 16, 2025 | Uncategorized

“Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example…” (1 Timothy 4:12)

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I found this article about Route 66 in an edition of Phi Kappa Phi’s magazine.

Main point: “Although it’s no longer a designated federal highway, Historic Route 66 continues to draw vehicles today. Plans are underway for celebrating its centennial in 2026, inviting more people to travel by car to explore this historic highway.”

More about it:

  • “Route 66 was established in 1926 by the federal government as a main east-west highway diagonally crossing eight states (Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California) on a nearly 2,500-mile path.”
  • “Route 66 has been highlighted in media perhaps more than any other highway in the United States. It was featured in the popular 2006 Disney/Pixar animated movie Cars. John Steinbeck called Route 66 the “Mother Road” in his novel The Grapes of Wrath, which tells the story of people heading west from Oklahoma to seek a new life during the Dust Bowl days of the Great Depression. Bobby Troup popularized it in song, crooning, “Get Your Kicks on Route 66.” Television featured it in a 1960s television program “Route 66.” It’s called “Main Street USA” because it went through the heart of many towns.”
  • “Perhaps one of the most impactful books is one written in 1990 by Michael Wallis, Route 66: The Mother Road. He writes about the highway’s history and shares stories and pictures of people and sights along the road. The book was seen as a key to reviving interest in the highway.”
  • “Route 66 associations were established in all the states the highway traveled through, inviting drivers to take time to stop and explore. Today’s tourists have no trouble finding information about the history of “America’s Main Street” and maps showing places to stop and see on the “Mother Road.” Plans are being made for special celebrations for its 100th anniversary in 2026.”

Why it matters:

  • “I have memories of family trips on Route 66, and my life journeys have been closely tied to the highway.”
  • “Traveling by car was an adventure, especially for a youngster.”
  • “As I drive on the road, I see buildings that remain as reminders of the highway’s history. I also see signs marking the historic highway.”
  • “…Wallis (author of Route 66: The Mother Road) was inviting future car travel when he said that the road stayed alive for a new sense of adventure.”

What to do about it:

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